After picking up the car Friday morning took the in-laws out for a meal in the evening.

 

On the way back the rear centre seat was put down as an arm-rest.

 

Was continuing reading the manual yesterday (Sunday) and read the bit about not putting the seat down onto the safety belt buckles. Checked the car and yup, indents from the buckles, but also surprisingly from the head rest.

 

I know it's not the world's best leather but didn't expect it to indent/stretch as easily as that and found it difficult to move the buckles to one side (due to their very short fixings) so that they weren't under the seat.

 

I'm not going to be too precious about this car but may try gently heating the affected area with a hair-drier to see if it will return to its original shape.

 

Has anybody else had this issue and improved it?

Yes I had the same issue but after a few days the indents disappeared.

I've had the same, but the go away quite quickly on their own.

Ditto. My centre rear seatback is almost permanently down (on the seatbelt buckles.)

When the seatback is up I don't even notice any marks in the leather.

Thanks for the replies.

 

Was hoping that may be the case, but as mine are still quite prominent thought they may need a bit of help!

I would not do that if I were you....

I thought the centre seat back was design for that purpose, so what is the solution?.

As you fold down the back of the centre seat, you need to hold the two seat belt buckles out to the side so that they don't get sandwiched between the two parts of the folded seat.  Not an easy job, as the OP noted: you really need three hands: one for each belt buckle, and one to fold down the seat back.  As the OP also noted, it is mentioned in the manual.

 ^  Better go for a swim near the water outlet from the local nuclear power station then!  ; - ))

I would not do that if I were you....

 

I think that you're right.

 

Two days and just as bad. Maybe the marks will improve when the weather gets warmer again!

 

Never mind, it will only happen again anyway.

 

 

As you fold down the back of the centre seat, you need to hold the two seat belt buckles out to the side so that they don't get sandwiched between the two parts of the folded seat.  Not an easy job, as the OP noted: you really need three hands: one for each belt buckle, and one to fold down the seat back.  As the OP also noted, it is mentioned in the manual.

 

Even then, the head rest leaves an indent, which will probably be worse if not resting on the buckles!

Perhaps a picture.

 

I recall my last vehicle when they had to remove the engine. Pre removal the technician had to lock the steering in the straight mode. He had a special fixture which sat on the seat and clamped to the steering wheel...only he did not put protection on the seat first. The pad had about 50 gripper protrusions on it which dug into the leather seat. That took almost 3 weeks to disappear. I was not happy.